US must pursue clean energy

11:05 AM,
Sep. 1, 2014

In this Dec. 6, 2001, file photo, anti-natural gas drilling groups join with friends and family members of Craig and Julie Sautner, of Dimock, Pennsylvania, in lifting up a giant water pumping hose as hundreds of gallons of fresh drinking water are pumped into a water buffalo at the Sautner's Carter Road home. Gannett file photo

Written by

Amy Mall

We all want economic and energy security. But recklessly ramping up U.S. oil and gas production is not the answer. Yet, a controversial new extraction technology known as "fracking" -- combined with unprecedented exemptions for the industry from bedrock federal environmental and public health laws -- has fueled a recent explosion in domestic oil and gas development. And safeguards have not kept pace.

As a result, today's fracking boom has come with enormous costs to our economy in the way of environmental cleanup, health impacts, community burdens, lost property values and decreased ...